plumboy

I'm just wondering if this is possible -- or if I'm just being too ambitious. But, we are staying our last night in CR somewhere within a reasonable distance from SJO (haven't decided where yet), and I'm wondering if it would be possible to check out Poas Volcano that morning and then make it to SJO?

We need to be at SJO no later than 11 AM. About how long does it take to go from Poas to SJO?

Thinking of La Terraza Guest House in Grecia.

(Conversely, also thinking of staying in Atenas -- in which case, I don't think Poas would even be a possibility.)

Anyway, I'm just wondering if this is possible -- or if it's just too far away. Thanks!

tully

plum you have the same affliction as me - trying to squeeze in one more thing in CR I would say it's do-able on a couple of conditions: you leave your hotel very early, like 7am, to get there right the park opens; you spend no more than an hour there; pray for no traffic on your way back. That would, in a perfect world, give you plenty of time to be back by 11am.

Another thing you could consider is staying at Poas Lodge, that would put you very close so you'd have a little less rush in the morning. That said, I don't know what their conditions are at the moment after the quake.

plumboy

Thanks. Yes, trying to squeeze every last moment out of it!

Unfortunately, Poas Lodge is closed till at least April 1 -- according to their website (we're going mid-March). Don't know if Peace Lodge will be up and running by then, but it's WAY out of our budget for this trip.

I have my map of CR out and just doing good old fashioned research -- trying to see which towns and areas are close and then checking Trip Advisor and Google.

The other option is to try to find a place to stay on that last night that will at least make us feel like we're doing something interesting. That's why I'm looking at La Terraza Guest House (it's by a river), Vista del Valle, maybe even Villa Blanca (but that may be too far?). Argh! This is fun but also frustrating. But definitely a luxury problem... I'm not complaining!

cmerrell

On our last trip, we did the Doka Coffee plantation tour on our last morning. We really quite enjoyed it! It's no volcano, but may be a suggestion if you can't figure out how to fit Poas in...

I <i>think</i> it would probably take about 45 min to an hour to get to Poas from Grecia. That's about what it took from Alajuela.

volcanogirl

We have the same syndrome! On one trip, we hadn't had time to hike the waterfalls at Peace Lodge, so we got up at 5:30 a.m. on our last day in CR to do the trails. We packed the night before, so we'd be ready to go. We timed it perfectly so that when the shuttles started running, we'd get back to Peace Lodge just in time. Guess what? The shuttles were running half an hour late! It was crazy, we were waiting at the pickup spot, and it just wasn't coming. There's a gift shop there where you can use the restroom, and I was dying to go, but it wasn't open either - again running late. We ended up making it, but I was sort of wondering, &quot;Why do I do this to myself?!&quot; I guess I just want to see and do everything I can, but things have to run pretty perfectly when you schedule things like that.

I think it's doable, but you have to cross your fingers that nothing goes wrong. From the Peace Lodge to SJO is about an hour, so from Poas, it would be even longer than that. I believe the park opens at 8:00.

RAC

Theoretically doable, but a bad idea.

Poas is about 45-60 minutes from the airport.

Poas opens up at 8:00 am, but figure at least 15-30 minutes to gain admittance, park the car, walk to the crater.

How would you be getting there? If you have a car, you'd still need to return the car before getting to SJO.

Given the uncertainty surrounding Poas and the roads around there, it seems to be a risk not worth taking.

cmerrell

RAC is probably right. It would probably make for a crazily hectic morning and you wouldn't have much room for error, but I do understand your desire to cram as much in as you can!

I couldn't figure out how to fit Poas in either on my first trip to CR and was bummed, knowing that I might never have a chance to get back there. Of course, I ended up so enamored of Costa Rica that I went back again the following year! I did get to Poas the second time around, and the crater <i>is</i> indeed a fascinating sight to behold, but you don't want to jeopardize your flight home...

plumboy

I just heard back from the owner of La Terraza in Grecia, and she told me that the road to Poas is pretty damaged in spots, so it probably isn't going to be a good idea on this trip

I had decided to just stay IN San Jose for that last night just for the experience, but we'll be returning to a big city, and I guess I want one more night of nature and peace (and I do think the city experience is valuable, but just not sure if I want that on this trip).

I guess what I really want is the chance to take a nice walk/hike on that last morning before we leave for the airport -- just one last something! Any other recommendations of hotels within 45 minutes of the airport that are set in a very natural setting?

I'm looking at El Cafetal Inn, which I think might fit the bill -- apparently there's a river and waterfall you can walk to in about 20 minutes. There's also Vista del Valle. Does Orquideas really fit this description?

But, yeah, my third trip to CR will have to be a volcano-themed one -- which I will start planning as soon as I return from this trip, I'm sure.

volcanogirl

I haven't stayed there, but I hear good things about Xandari. We didn't love our room at Vista del Valle, but the ground were pretty.

plumboy

Thanks volcanogirl. Xandari does look nice, but we're trying to keep the costs down -- so thinking more of middle of the road places. Vista del Valle may even be more than what we want to spend.

With all the HOURS and HOURS of research I've done on CR, I still keep finding places I've never seen -- it's crazy.

cmerrell

I know that I've read some good things about El Cafetal. I had looked at their website some time ago and then decided Orquideas made more sense for our last trip.

Orquideas does have a walking trail, but I don't think it's very extensive. We did a portion of it on our first night in CR last trip, but just never had the time to explore it further. Their grounds are quite pretty though. We did the Doka Plantation tour from there on our final morning. The timing worked out nicely for our departure flight. I think we had to be at the airport around noon-ish...

volcanogirl

I think the Doka Coffee Estate has a small bed and breakfast doesn't it? That might be fun.

RAC

Have you tried the old Fodors favorite, Orquideas Inn?

tully

Orquideas does have a nice trail &amp; grounds to walk around.

Another thought is Siempreverde B&amp;B. I've been there for breakfast and it was nice looking around, not sure how much more there is to walk around, though it is surrounded by lots and lots of coffee! Shillmac, or mot mot, or whoever she is today just recently stayed there, maybe she'll chime in.

motmot

It's motmot (SHILLMAC!). Why, oh why, can I not log in about half the time? It is driving me CRAZY! I don't want to give up being shillmac. She is like a separate personality!

Siempre Verde was a fun place. . .maybe a few $$ over what it should have been, but very nice breakfast and lovely walking area among the coffee plants.

We LOVED El Cafetal a few years ago (2003, I think). I'd suggest you give it a try. We enjoyed eating at a little soda down the road. On a clear day, you can see Barva, Poas, Irazu all three!

plumboy

I'm glad to hear El Cafetal was a good experience. Waiting to hear back from them. We did stop at their other cafe on the way back from Manuel Antonio, and it was a great place to stop and have a coffee overlooking the mountains.

Orchideas is certainly on my list, but it's not screaming my name for some reason. I'm probably making too much out of this -- it's only one night for goodness sake.

shillmac

Okay, guys, I'm back. Don't ask me how. Apparently all it took was creating a new password. Hmmm. . .one of you gave me that idea. Unless I have more trouble, I'll be shillmac, unless I can change it to shillmac-motmot!

You are making too much of it pb. . .but I'm thinking for what you are looking for you should go with El Cafetal, Siempre Verde, or Vista del Valle. All good. VdV a little pricier. All within 20-30 min. of airport. Actually, I wish you'd stay at EC and report back about how it is these days. It is run by a very nice couple from Columbia. Romy and ? Can't remember his name.

plumboy

If I stay at EC, can I count that as my very first travel review assignment?! I've been dreaming/scheming of how I can become a travel writer/reviewer/guidebook author. shillmac, you'll have to send me a nominal check to make it all official.

Andrea_loves_travel

shillmac, not sure if you knew you're &quot;famous&quot;, but I was reading the Fodor's guide (2006) this weekend and you had some quotes from the forum in there!! Maybe this is common knowledge, but I just started coming on the forum.

volcanogirl

Andrea, they quote a lot from this board. If they quote you, you get a free book. Sometimes they print people's photos as well. shillmac is famous though!